born in Renburg, Germany, in 1921, close to Hanover. Although he was of German origin, he died in Pretoria in 1977.

He studied medicine from 1939 to 1946 while serving in the German army and after, working as an orthopedic surgeon. He was mostly an independent artist. Irmin Henkel rose to fame as a portraitist in South Africa quite quickly, and formal government assignments came to him virtually without hesitation due to his abilities. His easygoing demeanor and good sense of humor put the sitter at ease and made it possible for the artist to capture his distinct personality and facial expressions.
Although his portraits typically captured the subject’s likeness accurately, there is a noticeable range in their creative quality. When it came to subjects other than portraiture, Irmin Henkel’s approach was carefree and vibrant. Overall, his style was